It was a big day here at Fool HQ, as we got hit with our first snow storm of the season in the Washington, D.C., area. Seventeen Fools were treated for minor lacerations and bruises during our annual snowball fight. But only one tooth was lost.
Bigger than that, however, was the return of long-time Fool writer Jeff Fischer, who, after a leave of absence to complete a book, rejoined the fray on Fool.com with 5 Ideal Stock Prices. Welcome back, Jeff. We missed you.
And even bigger than that was the official pre-sale of our annual book of stock ideas, Stocks 2003. Formerly Industry Focus, our opus is even better than ever. Bill Mann explains the changes. The current market may make you want to give up on stocks altogether, but don't. There are still hundreds of top-quality companies out there to invest in. We'll help you find them.
In today's Motley Fool Take:
- United Rejected, Dejected
- Quote of Note
- IBM Narrows Pension Gap
- Discussion Board of the Day: IBM
- Give Gifts With Past Lives
- Shameless Plug: Christmas Credit Crunch
- Quick Takes: Intel, Merck, France Telecom, more
- Got Teenagers?
- And Finally...
United Rejected, Dejected
United Airlines
The ATSB's decision was surprising because the airline's unions and management had agreed to significant pay cuts in order to improve the company's financial picture. But the board said United's proposed business plan did "not position the company to meet the challenges of the current airline industry environment and to achieve long-term financial stability. Specifically, the plan is based on unreasonably optimistic revenue projections."
The board said it believes United would likely face another liquidity crisis in the next few years, even if it received the loan. The bottom line: The ATSB doesn't believe it (meaning the American taxpayers) would be repaid.
United says it will discuss the matter with all parties involved and consider whether to submit an improved proposal.
Should it be forced to file Chapter 11, the airline vows to keep flying throughout the reorganization. Current stockholders will likely see their shares become worthless, however. The stock opened at $1.28 this morning, down 59%, before trading was halted.
If you're a United traveler, should you worry about your frequent flier miles? Most experts think they're safe, according to the Associated Press. They would likely survive intact through any bankruptcy proceedings, and even if the airline goes out of business, competitors would probably honor 25% to 50% of the miles.
Quote of Note
"For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather, every sky has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously." -- George Gissing (1857-1903), English novelist
IBM Narrows Pension Gap
When planning for retirement, you assume your pension plan will be there for you. You do your company time, get your sendoff with the token timepiece, and then wait for your monthly pension checks to arrive. Right?
Well, for the tenured at IBM
But because real and unwittingly innocent retirees are involved here, it's nice to see that recent gains in IBM's stock has given the company the flexibility to fill what has narrowed to a $3 billion gap in its domestic pension plan.
IBM's position is not unique. Blue chips 3M
IBM will make up the difference with a combination of cash and equity. The amount may seem beefy, but the company has generated just over $20 billion in free cash flow over the past three years. The bigger concern is that it was clinging to an ambitious 10% annualized growth rate for its stock in its growth assumptions -- a deluded premise that allowed it to post a healthier bottom line, since it hadn't contributed to its plan in seven years.
Let's hope IBM learns its lesson, or, at the very least, that Wall Street doesn't let the company forget it this time.
Discussion Board of the Day: IBM
Is Big Blue still a worthy blue chip? Is the pension plan shortage a petty or legitimate concern? All this and more -- in the IBM discussion board. Only on Fool.com.
Give Gifts With Past Lives
C'mon... stop being such a Goody Two-shoes. Everybody's doing it.
Well, maybe not everyone, but a survey reveals that nearly one in four of us upstanding, big-hearted Americans will resort to regifting this year. And, get this, the practice is more widespread (36%) among households with annual incomes in the $100,000 to $150,000 range, says the Money Management International survey reported by CBS Marketwatch.
If you're unfamiliar with regifting (go ahead and feign ignorance), it's the practice of passing along unwanted presents to someone else, all the while pretending you searched long and hard to find them. Chia pets, the Ronco Rotato, and, of course, the ubiquitous Christmas fruitcake are among items that find a second (and third and fourth) life under the tree.
Budget Liv ing magazine's anonymous celebrity columnist recently revealed her circle's dirty little secret -- many are serial regifters. "My friend 'Tricia,' a preeminent society hostess, revealed to me her 'Present Palace' -- a closet groaning with unwanted perfumes, sweaters, watches, scarves, umbrellas, and enough silver to service a small restaurant."
Some call it cheap. We call it Foolish. Given that the holidays are a budget-buster for so many (the average gift budget this year is more than $1,000!), we don't have a problem with the practice. Just make sure it's done tastefully and you give us something that we really, really like. The alternative -- credit card debt and shopper's resentment -- is hardly in the holiday spirit.
Go ahead and regift to shave a few bucks off the budget and find a good home for those 13 soaps on a rope you've accumulated since college. When you run out, consider becoming a philanthropist by giving to Foolanthropy. No wrapping paper necessary!
Shameless Plug: Christmas Credit Crunch
It's that time of year when you can make or break your credit. You don't have to buy that two-man submarine for your husband for Christmas -- though surely he would love it -- and pay for it for the rest of your lives. We've got your back in all personal credit matters. From a great card to how to protect your identity to how to size up your credit when you're looking for a loan, we've got it all in our Motley Fool Credit Center.
Quick Takes
It's hard to play Robin next to Batman. Advanced Micro Devices
Investors in American Eagle Outfitters
Merck
Bonjour, comment allez-vous? If you're France Telecom
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
Are you receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? Well, you're about to receive a "raise"! The annual, automatic cost-of-living adjustment for retiree benefit receivers will be 1.4% this year (again signaling that inflation remains low). The average retiree will be paid an extra... drum roll, please... $13 a month. (Hey, you could see the lame Bond movie twice this month on that.) Is retirement a concern of yours? If so, visit the Fool's retirement center.
And Finally...
Today on Fool.com: Check out our best stock ideas for Christmas, in Stocks 2003.... Jeff Fischer reveals his ideal stock prices for the likes of Intel, Pepsi, and more.... Matt Richey examines Cisco's CEO letters for its long-term strategy for success.... In Fool's School, the key to picking good mutual funds.... The Fool Community discusses in-store underwear models, in Hot Topics.
Contributors:
Bob Bobala, Robert Brokamp, Jeff Fischer, Tom Jacobs, LouAnn Lofton, Bill Mann, Selena Maranjian, Rex Moore, Rick Munarriz, Matt Richey, Jackie Ross, Reggie Santiago, Dayana Yochim